The Ministry of Digital Affairs(moda), in cooperation with the Ministry of the Interior's National Fire Agency and the three major telecommunications companies, conducted its first drill for the "Public Protection and Disaster Relief (PPDR)" communication system. This simulation aimed to demonstrate that in the event of an emergency, emergency command units could prioritize the use of the continuously operational telecommunications infrastructure of service providers through the use of multi-core network shared public networks.
The moda explained that PPDR is a national public safety and disaster relief communication system under a broadband communication framework. Currently, the United States and South Korea have implemented such a mechanism, and several other countries worldwide are considering or planning similar systems. The Taiwanese version of PPDR, planned by the moda, involves government-led core network construction, integration with base stations of the three major telecommunications companies, and the allocation of mobile network bandwidth to disaster relief units during major emergencies. Special SIM cards are provided to disaster relief units to ensure dedicated priority communication.
As part of the moda's collaboration with the National Fire Agency, a small-scale PPDR drill was conducted in Zhushan Township, Nantou County, during the "112th Disaster Prevention and Rescue Technology Achievement Exhibition." In this exercise, the moda established the PPDR communication system, while the National Fire Agency coordinated the 7th Disaster Relief and Rescue Brigade of the Taichung City Fire Department and the Volunteer Communication Unit of the Tainan City Fire Department. The drill simulated disaster relief using new technologies such as "telemedicine" and "drones" in the event of a strong earthquake disaster.
The moda pointed out that through cooperation with telecommunications providers and base station system settings, disaster relief units can use any undamaged base station of any service provider in the event of network congestion or network disruption. This ensures communication prioritization, stability, and resilience, ultimately saving crucial time in rescue efforts.
To continually enhance the PPDR communication system, the moda has planned to continue the PPDR communication system construction project from 2024 to 2025. Base station integration will be conducted in selected locations in local counties and cities, and local disaster relief units will receive education and training. By analyzing the feasibility of multiple agencies using the PPDR network, the moda will present a report on the deployment mechanism and cost-effectiveness analysis of the mobile communication PPDR network. This will strengthen the digital resilience of communication networks during major disasters, ensuring priority communication for disaster relief units to enhance disaster response capabilities."
